Cigar wrapper



E. R. LARSSON CIGAR WRAPPER Sept. 8, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1962 Sept. 8, 1964 Filed July 11, 1962 E. R. LARSSON CIGAR WRAPPER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. R. LARSSON CIGAR WRAPPER Sept. 8, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 11, 1962 United States Patent 3,147,755 CIGAR WRAPPER Erik R. Larsson, Vallingby, Sweden, assignor to Arenco Aktieholag, Vallinghy, Sweden, a joint-stock company of Sweden Filed July 11, 1962, Ser. No. 209,195 Claims priority, application Sweden, Nov. 18, 1960, HAM/60; Jan. 23, 1962, 705/62 7 Claims. (Cl. 131-15) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Ser. No. 150,764, filed November 7, 1961, for Cigars and the Method and Means for Their Manufacture, and now abandoned.

The present invention has for its object the manufacture of a mechanically manufactured cigar the tuck end of which is effectively covered by the tuck end of the wrapper even though the tuck end is rounded, for example hemispherically or considerably tapered.

It is a further object of the invention effectively to utilize for said purpose the inherent shape of tobacco leaf halves.

A cigar of this type, and particularly a so-called Bolknak-cigar, which is to be wound from the tuck or fire end can, according to the invention be provided by using a wrapper, which is characterized therein, that the tuck end of the wrapper has a side flap and an end flap, the latter extending mainly in the longitudinal direction of the wrapper beyond and outside the side flap, whereby the end flap has a length at least corresponding to a fourth of a turn around the tuck end portion of the cigar bunch and is to be wound in one direction on the said tuck end portion of the cigar bunch, and the said side flap is to be wound in another direction, for example substantially opposite the said one direction, on the tip of the tuck end portion of the bunch and superposed on the adjacent edge of the end flap.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the end flap has such a length that it covers a complete turn or more around the tuck end of the cigar bunch, so that the end flap will lock itself to avoid the risk of Wrinkles and other damages on the side and end flaps.

The device for carrying out the wrapping of the cigar with the new wrapper consists of a wrapping mechanism for rotating the bunch, a carrier for delivering the wrapper to the bunch rotating in the wrapping mechanism, a tucking needle, and a member for applying the tuck end portion of the wrapper to the tuck end portion of the bunch, and this device has a mechanism for timed operation of said wrapper carrier, said tucking needle and said wrapper applying member to first cause said tucking needle to apply and retain the end flap to the bunch head when the bunch is rotated through an angle substantially corresponding to the length of the end flap, thereafter to cause the wrapper carrier to release the side flap and cause said wrapper applying member to apply the side flap to the pitch of the bunch as the main portion of the wrapper is wound about the middle portion of the bunch towards the month end of the cigar.

The invention will now be described in greater detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 are horizontal views illustrating operations before and during the application of the tuck end of a wraper to a substantially hemispherical tuck end of a cigar bunch.

3,147,755 Patented Sept. 8, 1964 FIGURE 4 is a similar view showing the finished cigar and a rotary knurler for finishing the tuck end of the cigar,

FIGURE 5 is a vertical side view of the cigar bunch and a tucking needle,

FIGURES 6 and 7 are a side view and an end view of the tuck end of the finished cigar in a slightly modified embodiment,

FIGURE 8 is an end view showing a bunch introduced into the wrapping mechanism and the wrapper carrier beginning the supply of a wrapper to the bunch as shown in FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 9 illustrates a preferred wrapper having an end flap with a length corresponding at least to a complete turn around the tuck end of the cigar.

The tuck end portion T of the wrapper W has a special configuration adapted for the purpose contemplated by the inventionv Thus, the tuck end portion T consists of a laterally projecting side flap L and a longitudinally projecting end flap E which extends past and beyond the side flap L a distance corresponding to at least one quarter of a trun around the tuck end portion of the cigar bunch.

The direction of extent of the end flap E is substantially the same as the longitudinal direction of extent of the main body of the wrapper. The wrapper W is cut out of a leaf half and its configuration corresponds generally to that of such a leaf half. Thus, its longitudinal side edge S is substantially rectilinear and its opposite longitudinal edge R is arcuate. Between the side flap L and the body portion M the wrapper has an incision I. From FIG- URE 1 it is evident that the side flap L has such a shape and size that it does not project beyond the dash and dot outline G corresponding approximately to that of the leaf half. This minimizes waste when cutting the wrapper.

When the wrapper W is about to be applied to the rotating bunch B positioned in the wrapping mechanism 1 the wrapper carrier 2, consisting of a suction head, has advanced the wrapper to the position shown in FIG- URES 1 and 8 and the flexible tucking needle 3 (FIG- URES 1 and 5) has removed the end flap E of the wrapper from the suction head and applied it to the rounded tuck end D of the bunch slightly beyond the maximum diameter plane F of the bunch as shown in FIGURE 5 whereby the tucking needle 3 engages the tuck end of the bunch at a point P in the transverse plane H to the left of the plane F as shown in FIGURE 5. When the bunch rotates through approximately three quarters of one revolution the tucking needle 3 follows this rotation and maintains the wrapper end flap E in engagement with the tuck end of the bunch so that the flap B will be wound about the bunch end in an arcuate path in the plane H whereby the inner end I of the incision I will be moved into the position shown in FIGURE 2 simultaneously as the Wrapper carrier 2 conveys the body portion M and side flap L of the wrapper W into the positions shown in FIGURE 2. Then the wrapper carrier releases the side flap L which can be effected by admitting ambient air into that portion of the Wrapper carrier which has attracted said side flap in known manner, namely by suction. For that purpose the air blast means described in the United States Patent No. 654,202 can be utilized when modified to admit air under atmospheric pressure into said portion of the wrapper carrier.

After having finished applying the-end flap E and rotated the bunch slightly further the tucking needle 3 is,

ens/yes 3 in conventional manner, retracted from the bunch, and a header cone 4 is moved towards the bunch end D and turns the wrapper side flap L slightly clockwise (FIG- URE 2) so that its incision edge I will overlap the incision edge 1 of the body portion M of the wrapper. Upon continued rotation of the bunch, the cone 4 will apply the side flap L to the tuck end of the bunch as shown in FIGURE 3. Obviously the Winding direction of the side flap L relative to the bunch will be substantially opposite to that of the end flap E when the side flap is applied in this manner about the round outer portion of the tuck end B of the bunch, that is, upon the end flap E already having been applied to the bunch. Thus, in the finished cigar the side flap will, according to FIGURES 3 and 4, overlap by its edge I an edge portion of the body M of the wrapper and the leaf veins N will extend longitudinally of the cigar.

In the embodiment as described hereinbefore it is assumed that the flaps E and L form conjointly a substantially central cap on the tuck end of the cigar. This, however, is not imperativebut said flaps can be applied to the tuck end of the bunch eccentrically in superposed relation as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 if a heavily rounded, that is blunt, tuck end is to be covered by the flaps E and L. In such case the end flap E is first wound through substantially one quarter of a revolution (FIG- URE 7) about the bunch end and thereafter the side flap L is applied like a cup to the bunch end as shown in FIGURE 6 so that it will overlap the edge portion K (FIGURE 1) of the end flap. The reference characters used in FIGURES 6 and 7 relate to features having the same notations in FIGURE 1.

The header cone 4, a rotary knurler and the tucking needle 3 can be arranged and operate in the manner de scribed in the German patent specification No. 1,045,880.

When carrying out the above winding method a Wrapper has been used which is provided with an end flap covering about A to of the circumference of the fire end of the cigar in the winding region. The covered portion of the circumference may, of course, be greater, and preferably an end flap is used which has a length covering one turn or more around the fire end (FIG. 9), so that the end flap will lock itself to ensure a more reliable winding and to prevent the side flap L from being damaged by the needle 3, when the latter is withdrawn. When such an end flap is used its direction of extent is the same as that of the end flap described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 8, that is, substantially in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of extent of the main portion of the wrapper. Further it is not necessary to apply a binding agent to the end flap E, because the end flap in this case will be self-locking. A binding agent must, however, be provided on the end flap when shorter.

To prevent the wrapper from being torn in the junction between the end flap E and the side flap L an incision I is provided, which substantially is an extenson of the edge of the flap E. A further advantage in using an end flap covering at least one complete turn about the circumference of the fire end of the cigar within the winding region consists therein that the side flap L can be blown directly onto the fire end. The member 4 must, of course, be positioned to cause the side flap to be properly applied to the fire end.

It is to be noted that the wrapper described may as well be used in machines in which the starting point of the winding operation lies on the thickest part of the cigar, i.e. in the region between the fire end and the main body of the bunch.

I claim:

1. A wrapper for mechanically winding a cigar bunch having a mouth end and a progressively reducing tuck end, said wrapper consisting essentially of an elongated main body portion for covering the bunch between the mouth end and said tuck end, a gradually narrowing flap at the end of said main body portion of said wrapper and having side edges tapering continuously substantially to a point at its extremity and corresponding to said tuck end of the bunch and integral with said main body and having its longitudinal axis through its extremity extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of said main body, said end flap having a length corresponding to at least one-quarter of a turn around said tuck end; and of a side flap integrally connected with said main body and said end flap approximately at the junction thereof, said end flap and said main body of the wrapper being adapted to be wound onto said bunch in one direction while said side flap is adapted to be wound in the opposite direction of winding onto said tuck end over said end flap with said side flap covering the tip of said tuck end and having its edge portions overlying the adjacent edge portions of said end flap and of said main body.

2. A wrapper according to claim 1, and in which said end flap has such a length as to cover at least one turn around the tuck end of the cigar.

3. A cigar Wrapper according to claim 2, and in which said wrapper is provided with an incision with touching edges at the junction of said end flap and side flap and extending substantially in the direction of and in continuation of the edge of said end flap adjacent said side flap.

4. A cigar wrapper according to claim 2, and in which said wrapper is provided with an incision with touching edges at the junction of said main body and said side fiap and extending substantially in the direction of and in continuation of the edge of said main body adjacent said side flap and in which said wrapper is provided with an incision with touching edges at the junction of said end flap and side flap and extending substantially in the direction of and in continuation of the edge of said end flap adjacent said side flap.

5. A cigar wrapper according to claim 1, and in which said wrapper is provided with an incision with touching edges at the junction of said main body and said side flap and extending substantially in the direction of and in continuation of the edge of said main body adjacent said side flap.

6. A wrapper for mechanically winding a cigar bunch having a mouth end and a progressively reducing tuck end, said wrapper consisting essentially of an elongated main body portion for covering the bunch between the mouth end and said tuck end, a gradually narrowing flap at the end of said main body portion of said wrapper corresponding to said tuck end of the bunch and integral with said main body and extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of said main body, said end flap having a length corresponding to at least one quarter of a turn around said tuck end; and of a side flap integrally connected with said main body and said end flap approximately at the junction thereof, said wrapper being provided with an incision with touching edges at the junction of said end flap and side flap and extending substantially in the direction of and in continuation of the edge of said end flap adjacent said side flap, said end flap and said main body of the wrapper being adapted to be wound onto said bunch in one direction while said side flap is adapted to be wound in the opposite direction of winding onto said tuck end over said end flap with said side flap covering the tip of said tuck end and having its edge portions overlying the adjacent edge portions of the end flap and of said main body.

7. A wrapper for mechanically winding a cigar bunch having a month end and a progressively reducing tuck end, said wrapper consisting essentially of an elongated main body portion for covering the bunch between the mouth end and said tuck end, a gradually narrowing flap at the end of said main body portion of said wrapper corresponding to said tuck end of the bunch and integral with said main body and extending substantially in the longitudinal direction of said main body, said end flap having a length corresponding to at least one-quarter of a turn around said tuck end; and of a side flap integrally connected with the main body and said end flap approximately at the junction thereof, said Wrapper being provided with an incision with touching edges at the junction of said main body and said side flap and extending substantially in the direction of and in continuation of the edge of said main body adjacent said side flap, and in which said Wrapper is provided with an incision with touching edges at the junction of said end flap and side flap and extending substantially in the direction of and in continuation of the edge of said end flap adjacent said side flap, said end flap and said main body of the Wrapper being adapted to be Wound onto said bunch in one direction While said side flap is adapted to be Wound in the opposite direction of winding onto said tuck end over said 6 end flap with said side flap covering the tip of said tuck end and having its edge portions overlying the adjacent edge portions of said end flap and of said main body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 764,210 Shedlock July 5, 1904 3,064,658 Verbakel Nov. 20, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 547,992 Belgium Nov. 22, 1956 1,226,275 France Feb. 22, 1960 1,249,419 France Nov. 21, 1960 71,324 Switzerland Dec. 16, 1915 

1. A WRAPPER FOR MECHANICALLY WINDING A CIGAR BUNCH HAVING A MOUTH END AND A PROGRESSIVELY REDUCING TUCK END, SAID WRAPPER CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF AN ELONGATED MAIN BODY PORTION FOR COVERING THE BUNCH BETWEEN THE MOUTH END AND SAID TUCK END, A GRADUALLY NARROWING FLAP AT THE END OF SAID MAIN BODY PORTION OF SAID WRAPPER AND HAVING SIDE EDGES TAPERING CONTINUOUSLY SUBSTANTIALLY TO A POINT AT ITS EXTERMITY AND CORRESPONDING TO SAID TUCK END OF THE BUNCH AND INTEGRAL WITH SAID MAIN BODY AND HAVING ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS THROUGH ITS EXTREMITY EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF SAID MAIN BODY, SAID END FLAP HAVING A LENGTH CORRESPONDING TO AT LEAST ONE-QUARTER OF A TURN AROUND SAID TUCK END; AND OF A SIDE FLAP INTEGRALLY CONNECTED WITH SAID MAIN BODY AND SAID END FLAP APPROXIMATELY AT THE JUNCTION THEREOF, SAID END FLAP AND SAID MAIN BODY OF THE WRAPPER BEING ADAPTED TO BE WOUND ONTO SAID BUNCH IN ONE DIRECTION WHILE SAID SIDE FLAP IS ADAPTED TO BE WOUND IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF WINDING ONTO SAID TUCK END OVER SAID END FLAP WITH SAID SIDE FLAP COVERING THE TIP OF SAID TUCK END AND HAVING ITS EDGE PORTIONS OVERLYING THE ADJACENT EDGE PORTIONS OF SAID END FLAP AND OF SAID MAIN BODY. 